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Bergantino AE212; Part 2!!
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
I am buying a new cab this week for my f500 and can't decide in the ae212 or 410. I play in a country band mostly and it will be used as a stand alone cab. I use a variety of basses but my main squeeze is a Lakland 5502.
I've got the F500 and both the AE212 and AE410. I'd highly recommend the AE212 for the F500, whereas I think the LMII sounds better with the AE410.
The AE410 is an aggressive, aggressive cab, and the F500 has got more than its share of bite as well. I found that the two together can be pretty tough to tame, particularly if you're not looking for a whole lot of in-your-face upper mids and top end. Now, with the semi-parametric EQ on the F500, you can definitely dial it down, but you're effectively going against the nature of the AE410.
With the AE212, the F500 rips through a mix without being too offensive in the top end. The flatter response of the AE212 allows the bite of the F500 to work in the mix, while the bit of extra booty that the AE212 has keeps your sound fat.
The AE410 is an aggressive, aggressive cab, and the F500 has got more than its share of bite as well. I found that the two together can be pretty tough to tame, particularly if you're not looking for a whole lot of in-your-face upper mids and top end. Now, with the semi-parametric EQ on the F500, you can definitely dial it down, but you're effectively going against the nature of the AE410.
With the AE212, the F500 rips through a mix without being too offensive in the top end. The flatter response of the AE212 allows the bite of the F500 to work in the mix, while the bit of extra booty that the AE212 has keeps your sound fat.
While I love the bite of the F500 with the AE410, I agree with you that, for most, the AE212's fatter low end and more relaxed upper mids really does a great yin yang with the F500.... truly a remarkable pairing!
As another data point for you, here is a comparison of the AE212 and the AE410 with the F500. I used my Sadowsky, which is quite a bit brighter and 'grindier' than your 5502, but at least its something
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As another data point for you, here is a comparison of the AE212 and the AE410 with the F500. I used my Sadowsky, which is quite a bit brighter and 'grindier' than your 5502, but at least its something
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Well, I didn't need to hear that
The 212/F500/sadowsky combo sounds great.
Pure speculation on my part, but I think for my tone goals, I'd prefer the TH500 with the AE410 (most Agie electronics sound better to me with a bit of tightening-up in the low end and a bit of zing in the upper mids).
6 days ago and no report? I'm reporting this post to a moderator!Mine has arrived. Should get to test drive it some tonight.
EDIT: WHOOPS! I see that Chef is one step ahead of me.
My guess is that it will totally kill! My Tone Hammer sounds FANTASTIC into the FX return of my Shuttle 9.0 with the AE212. The Tone Hammer is one of my favorite pieces of gear in the history of things I've owned. With the AGS off, it is ultra clean but warm. It can sound very active and modern in this mode, but the sweeping mid control lets you set it to do all kinds of things. In AGS mode, it can go from subtle vintage warmth to snarly OD. The new TH500 head to me should be a slam dunk right out of the gate as long as there are no design flaws or failure issues. That's doubtful to happen coming from Aguilar, so I would buy with confidence. I was thinking that my next head would be a Streamliner before Aguilar announced this. I'm not so sure now.
Sounds superb with my Walkabout & Ampeg SVTII... then again I haven't HEARD a cab that sounds bad with these amps
6 days ago and no report? I'm reporting this post to a moderator!
EDIT: WHOOPS! I see that Chef is one step ahead of me.
Ha, I had to get a second job to pay for my GAS purchases, JK
. I have done some bedroom test with this cab only and no gigs, so I was waiting to make a more educated statement. So far I have only used my GK MB200 for pairing and haven't hooked up the M6. I have rehearsal tonight and planning on taking the MB200 and the AE212. So far I am digging it and did notice some more low end after some break-in period. It is sitting next to my AE410 so I did compare the MB200/AE410 with the MB/AE212 and like KJ has said before more similiar than different. I bump the high mids and reduce a little bass on the AE212 and it sounds pretty similiar to the AE410. The difference in weight is not real noticeable for me and schelp with the AE212 is not drastically different than the AE410 IMO. Maybe through door openings.Anyway more to come....
I am having the same internal debate. What to hear some NAMM reports on these from Vic, Tom or anyone else who was able to compare.
I wouldn't think that TH500 would be in the same league as the Genz offerings. I personally got pretty mixed reviews from some of the guys I was linked up with at NAMM who gave it a whirl. I was also not particularly impressed with the AG500 and the AE cabs myself.
However, IMO, any of these three heads will be a better match for the AE212 than the M6 for most tone goals (of course, as you know, the M6 kills with the AE410). I would think if you like a tight, modern tone, it would be VERY hard to beat the Shuttle Max 9.2 with the AE212 (or the Shuttle 9 if you are looking for very small size). The F500 absolutely kills with it also.
I'm assuming the Streamliner is a little bit more of a 'specialty voicing' (which is why I bought one for my amp stable)... more in the tone universe of a DB750 or whatever... a bit fatter, wider, tubier. I'm assuming that head is going to speak better with the AE410 than the AE212. We shall see. I should have one in about 3 weeks for review and clips with these cabs!
Ha, I had to get a second job to pay for my GAS purchases, JK
Anyway more to come....
You will find IMO that the differences are quite magnified on the gig. The AE212, even with some EQ, is quite a bit wider and smoother sounding than the AE410.... fatter, rounder, and a bit more 'airy' up top due to the increased tonal space between the top of the driver and the tweeter versus the AE410, which is VERY bright up there, even with the tweeter off.
IMO!
The biggest difference in the schlepp to me is that the AE212 is small cart friendly, whereas the width and extra weight of the AE410 requires either castors or a much more heavy and heavy duty cart. The AE212 works perfectly with the Kart-a-bag Super 600, which makes the schlepp amazingly easy!
I posted this shot in the Berg Mega thread a couple of weeks ago, but since the schlep came up, here is my primary large gig rig, in full schlepping mode.
F500 with all cables in pouch
Hercules stand
Kart-a-bag Super 600 cart
AE212
Bass on back
With the stair walkers and built in bungee cords on the Kart-a-bag, I can walk blocks from my car to the gig if necessary, easily making it over curbs and a few steps up in, for example, a large hotel loading dock, without every having to unload until I'm at the stage (and the cart folds up to next to nothing in size). With my AE410, it is just large and heavy enough to not really work on a cart like this (I have castors on it and just set the amp and stand on top, which works find for short distances).
F500 with all cables in pouch
Hercules stand
Kart-a-bag Super 600 cart
AE212
Bass on back
With the stair walkers and built in bungee cords on the Kart-a-bag, I can walk blocks from my car to the gig if necessary, easily making it over curbs and a few steps up in, for example, a large hotel loading dock, without every having to unload until I'm at the stage (and the cart folds up to next to nothing in size). With my AE410, it is just large and heavy enough to not really work on a cart like this (I have castors on it and just set the amp and stand on top, which works find for short distances).
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,951
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- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I heard all of those heads, and was fairly impressed. The TH500 sounds just like the Tonehammer pedal - go figure! The AGS isn't as aggressive as the Aggro, but can add a little hair. The Streamliner 900 was very warm/round/vintage, and quite nice. The ShuttleMAX 9.2 is super flexible, and can do just about any tone you'd like.
That being said, what really blew us all away was the GK MB800. It packs a very visceral punch, and is the first micro head I have played that you really feel in your gut. Sure, gain matching is king; this was NAMM (which is a terrible place to actually hear things); we didn't do a direct A/B/C, etc., but based upon first impressions, at least, the MB800 really impressed. In fact, we gave GK one of our Best of Show Awards for the MB800.
Tom.
